Does anyone actually have or have held his frame? You can customize just about any racket to play like somthing else, and Jo is with P1, im sure Nate and his boys rigged somthing up for him inside the hoop and the grip. No way does Jo-Willy play with that pool noodle of a stick

Somebody a year or so ago posted pictures of Tsonga's actual stick. I'm sure you could search it. And he's a pro, he can play with whatever he wants. He just made the Wimbledon semis and was very much in the match against Murray who played quite well. I don't think that if he was using his old Pro Staff that he would have necessarily done any better or worse. When you get to that level, equipment matters, but not as much as how you're playing on that given day.

I don't think he would switch if he didn't feel like it helped him or, if nothing else, he would be able to keep up his level.

It's also not the playing style that a racket suits, but the player. I love serving and volleying, chipping and charging, crushing and net rushing, etc. I've always played with an APD and have recently switched over to a prince exo3 tour. Neither of them are rackets known for their net play, but they were what felt the most comfortable to me. Because of that, I played and still play m best twnnis with them.

That Babolat racquet of his is just wild and less controllable. He played better with that old Wilson racquet.. (was it K Blade..) I reckon he would play well with Wilson Pro Staff 95 sq in.

Click to expand...

I agree, I think his play just looked better, more controlled and measured, with his old Wilson racquet. Yes, he's been very successful in recent years with the APDGT, but how do we know that is because of the racquet, rather than in spite of it? I've been puzzled by his racquet choice ever since he switched, I mean, a APDGT may suit a noob pusher like nadal, but for an aggressive player like Tsonga who already has tons of power?

I think it worked very well for him on clay this year against Djokovic, but for his all-round game I think a Wilson suited him better. His game just looked wild in the semis against Murray this Wimbledon, and the racquet just looked kind of oversized for him.

I find it funny that you view Nadal as a pusher. I'm not a ******* by any means, but if you've ever watched him play--in person, this is much more evident--he goes after the ball ferociously. He does use a lot of spin, but he hits the ball SO HARD. He uses angles and moves his opponent around until he can find an opening to hit a winner. His aggressiveness comes from his tactics. He does not bully the ball around the court like Tsonga does (not taking away from Jo's game at all). It's not "pushing" if your opponent is constantly on the defensive.

I find it funny that you view Nadal as a pusher. I'm not a ******* by any means, but if you've ever watched him play--in person, this is much more evident--he goes after the ball ferociously. He does use a lot of spin, but he hits the ball SO HARD. He uses angles and moves his opponent around until he can find an opening to hit a winner. His aggressiveness comes from his tactics. He does not bully the ball around the court like Tsonga does (not taking away from Jo's game at all). It's not "pushing" if your opponent is constantly on the defensive.

Click to expand...

+ 1 to that. Pushers don't bend a tennis ball around the net post for a winner. Also, *******? haha, is this the accepted name for Nadal fans now?

I find it funny that you view Nadal as a pusher. I'm not a ******* by any means, but if you've ever watched him play--in person, this is much more evident--he goes after the ball ferociously. He does use a lot of spin, but he hits the ball SO HARD. He uses angles and moves his opponent around until he can find an opening to hit a winner. His aggressiveness comes from his tactics. He does not bully the ball around the court like Tsonga does (not taking away from Jo's game at all). It's not "pushing" if your opponent is constantly on the defensive.

Click to expand...

Seconded, and I don't even care for his play (respect it a lot though).

I want to see Tsonga with Fed's blx 6.1 90 and string setup. I think Tsonga could be the bigger, stronger, faster Federer. (I don't really, but similar. stronger but with less elegance and fluidity of movement)

+ 1 to that. Pushers don't bend a tennis ball around the net post for a winner. Also, *******? haha, is this the accepted name for Nadal fans now?

Click to expand...

Haha, I've heard it used a bit to describe Nadal fans who feel he can do no wrong. They'll make excuses about his losses and praise him as the best player ever when he wins, regardless of who he played, even if he said in a press conference that there was no excuse for his loss. I'm certainly a Nadal fan, but I'm not utterly dismayed when he loses.

I find it funny that you view Nadal as a pusher. I'm not a ******* by any means, but if you've ever watched him play--in person, this is much more evident--he goes after the ball ferociously. He does use a lot of spin, but he hits the ball SO HARD. He uses angles and moves his opponent around until he can find an opening to hit a winner. His aggressiveness comes from his tactics. He does not bully the ball around the court like Tsonga does (not taking away from Jo's game at all). It's not "pushing" if your opponent is constantly on the defensive.

Click to expand...

lol I was just kidding, I admire Nadal really, though I do think that racquet suits his very specific game

I agree, I think his play just looked better, more controlled and measured, with his old Wilson racquet. Yes, he's been very successful in recent years with the APDGT, but how do we know that is because of the racquet, rather than in spite of it? I've been puzzled by his racquet choice ever since he switched, I mean, a APDGT may suit a noob pusher like nadal, but for an aggressive player like Tsonga who already has tons of power?

I think it worked very well for him on clay this year against Djokovic, but for his all-round game I think a Wilson suited him better. His game just looked wild in the semis against Murray this Wimbledon, and the racquet just looked kind of oversized for him.

Click to expand...

That new wildness since he switched to the APD+ is not from a racquet change as much as a spec change.

His old wilson was very headlight; suiting his natural big hitting all court style.

His current specs are more HH making it more difficult to change the direction of the ball, more reliant on the opponent's shot with the benefit of more power.

I think the racquet change to the Babolat and his change in game was dictated by his injuries. Sure with that Wilson (Hyper Prostaff 6.5) he made amazing plays (AO 08 highlights are insane), but he had to hustle around much more than I think his body could handle (he IS a big guy). This doesn't bode well for longevity, and longevity is what gives him more opportunities to do well (remember Taylor Dent?). Also, perhaps the Babolat handles the poly better?

At the end of the day Tsonga plays with an APD because Babolat pays him very well to do so. If Wilson, Head or Prince offered him a better $$ deal, I'm sure he would jump with little hesitation. Not saying the other brands are better or worse, it's just a money game and at his level he can adjust and play well with just about anything.

I don't think he would switch if he didn't feel like it helped him or, if nothing else, he would be able to keep up his level.

It's also not the playing style that a racket suits, but the player. I love serving and volleying, chipping and charging, crushing and net rushing, etc. I've always played with an APD and have recently switched over to a prince exo3 tour. Neither of them are rackets known for their net play, but they were what felt the most comfortable to me. Because of that, I played and still play m best twnnis with them.

Click to expand...

I think you may be right, I have always been an all court player but I always like new modern tech, so I was never a fan of the six one tour, then I tried it and it was godly. Gong to get the six one prostaff 95. How do you use the aero at net, for me it was too unstable and I couldn't control anything.

I think you may be right, I have always been an all court player but I always like new modern tech, so I was never a fan of the six one tour, then I tried it and it was godly. Gong to get the six one prostaff 95. How do you use the aero at net, for me it was too unstable and I couldn't control anything.

Click to expand...

I want to switch to a 95 wilson frame when my game improves, currently playing with a dunlop aerogel 4d (98 sq inch frame), but even now sometimes I feel like I need a slightly heavier/smaller frame. Dunno how a pro can play with a 100sq inch - I honestly couldn't play with anything more than 98sq inch with my 1HBH.